Waterpik Guide

What is a Waterpik?

Waterpik® is a brand of water flossers (oral irrigators) that spray water to remove food, bacteria, and plaque between your teeth.

Waterpik products offer superior oral care and dental wellness benefits compared to string floss and other interdental cleaners. 

Benefits of using a Waterpik include:

• Easier to clean hard-to-reach areas
• Fresher breath that lasts longer
• Reduces gum inflammation
• Prevents and reduces gingivitis

The Waterpik Water Flosser is the first of its kind to receive the ADA Seal of Acceptance from the American Dental Association. The ADA determined that Waterpiks are safe, effective at removing plaque, and help prevent and reduce gingivitis.

How Do Waterpiks Work?

Waterpiks clean the mouth using water pressure and pulsations, which washes away harmful plaque and food debris.

Studies show that pulsating water is more effective at cleaning vs. a steady stream of water. This is because the combination of pulsation and pressure produces hydraulic forces that remove plaque biofilm.

You can adjust the pressure setting to your liking, from a gentle to maximum cleanse. Waterpiks can also be used with mouthwash, which neutralizes odors and helps to freshen your breath.

Benefits of Waterpik Water Flossers

Waterpik oral irrigators have many benefits, including:

• Better plaque removal. Waterpik Water Flossers significantly reduce plaque biofilm and remove up to 99.9% of plaque from treated areas.
• Healthier gums. Waterpik products offer a more effective alternative to traditional dental floss in reducing gingival bleeding and improving oral health. In fact, they are up to 50% more effective at improving gum health than string floss.
• Superior cleaning around braces. A Waterpik Water Flosser is up to 3X as effective for removing plaque around braces than string floss.
• Essential for implants. A Waterpik Water Flosser is up to 2X as effective for improving gum health around implants than string floss.
• Effective stain removal. Daily use of a Waterpik® Water Flosser removes more stains than tooth brushing alone. It also removes 25% more stains than brushing and is as gentle as regular toothpaste.

Why Trust Us?

Our team has put together a list of the best cordless water flossers available. We took into account the: 

• Battery life
• Quality of features
• Reviews from multiple sites 
• The trustworthiness of the brand
• Portability
• Pressure modes 
• Overall value for the money

Some water flossers have the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance. These water flossers are effective in preventing gum disease, cavities, and other oral health conditions. 

Devices that currently have the ADA Seal of Acceptance include Philips and Waterpik Water Flossers. We chose the best flossers with this seal of acceptance, which you will read more about below. 

Other devices included in this article do not have the ADA Seal of Acceptance. However, after hours of research, our team determined they were still effective in removing plaque and preventing common oral health conditions (e.g., cavities and gingivitis). 

We determined each brand's reputability by speaking with company leaders, reading hundreds of customer reviews, and ensuring they provide quality customer service.

Types of Waterpik Products

Countertop Water Flossers

Countertop Water flossers have more pressure settings that allow you to customize cleaning power. They also have larger water reservoirs and other advanced features.

Countertop water flossers come in a range of sizes and features. Small countertop water flossers include a balance of features in a more compact size.

Countertop water flossers include the Waterpik Ultra and the Waterpik Aquarius and range in price from $49.99 to $139.99.

Cost: $$

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Cordless Water Flossers

Cordless water flossers offer superior portability compared to other water flossers and are suitable for small bathrooms.

Compared to countertop water flossers, cordless water flossers have a smaller water reservoir and slightly lower overall water pressure.

Cordless water flossers include the Cordless Express, the Cordless Plus, and the Cordless Advanced, ranging in price from $39.99 to $99.99.  

Cost: $$

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Water Flosser + Toothbrush System

The Waterpik Complete Care system includes a Waterpik and toothbrush. This system is the best option for complete dental care, with a water flosser and separate electric toothbrush in one. This convenient device saves counter space and power outlets and comes with a choice of sonic or oscillating toothbrushes.

The Complete Care Water Flosser + Toothbrush Systems range in price from $99.99 to $119.99.  

Cost: $$

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Waterpik® Whitening Water Flossers

Waterpik Whitening Water Flossers deliver precision whitening while you water floss. These devices restore natural whiteness in just four weeks by removing hard-to-reach stains that other products miss. 

The advanced model includes pulse-modulation technology for maximum plaque removal and enhanced gum stimulation.

Waterpik Whitening Water Flossers range in price from $79.99 to $99.99.

Cost: $$

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Waterpik Sonic-Fusion®

The Sonic-Fusion® Flossing Toothbrush is the best solution for fast, easy, and effective brushing and flossing. This toothbrush comes with flossing technology built into the patented brush head. The buttons on the power handle let you switch from brushing to flossing (or both).

The Sonic-Fusion® Flossing Toothbrush ranges in price from $169.99 to $199.99.  

Cost: $$$

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Types of Waterpik Tips & What They Do

Waterpik offers a variety of tips designed for different dental needs. Here are the top Waterpik tips available and their intended use.

• The Classic Jet Tip (Jt-100E) is best for everyday use. This tip cleans deep between teeth and below the gum line to help prevent gum disease and improve your oral health.
• The Orthodontic Tip is best for braces and orthodontics. This tip has a tapered brush on the end to help remove plaque from braces and other orthodontic devices. 
• The Plaque Seeker® Tip is best for dental work or implants. This tip gently removes plaque around all types of dental work and hard-to-reach areas without causing damage to delicate prosthetics. It has three thin tufts of bristles that gently access stubborn plaque around dental implants, crowns, bridges, and veneers.
• The Pik Pocket^TM Tip is best for periodontal pockets. It is specifically designed to deliver water or anti-bacterial solutions deep into periodontal pockets as prescribed by your dentist.
• The Tongue Cleaner is best for fresher breath. The Tongue Cleaner’s spoon-like shape effectively traps and removes bacteria from the tongue to prevent bad breath.
• The Toothbrush Tip is best for toothbrushing. This tip is similar to a manual toothbrush and attaches to the Water Flosser handle. It allows you to brush your teeth as you water floss manually.
• Implant Denture Tip is best for fixed implant bridges and dentures. This tip is specifically designed to access hard-to-reach areas to clean fixed implant bridges and dentures.

Are Water Flossers Better Than String Floss?

A water flosser has significant oral health benefits. While traditional floss is still recommended by dentists and the American Dental Association (ADA), water flossers (like Waterpik) are excellent adjuncts to your dental care routine. 

Many people also find water flossers easier to use correctly than string dental floss.

Tips for Cleaning Your Waterpik 

The Waterpik manufacturer recommends that you clean your waterpik with water and vinegar. You can also clean the water reservoir in your dishwasher.

Here are five steps for simple cleaning with water, vinegar, and your dishwasher to keep your Water Flosser performing at its best:

1. Clean the outside of the unit
2. Clean the water reservoir
3. Clean the internal parts
4. Clean the handle (countertop models)
5. Clean the flosser tip

To ensure optimal performance, complete this process every 1 to 3 months.

Which Waterpik Water Flosser is Right for You?

Waterpik offers a variety of products for different needs and lifestyles. 

If you are new to water flossing, your dentist can advise whether a water flosser is the right choice for your oral hygiene and which type of water flosser is best for you. Everyone’s teeth and gums are different. If you try a Waterpik, get feedback from your dentist about how well it’s working.